Chemists across the state to go on strike from Oct 16

Maharashtra State Chemists and Druggists Association (MSCDA) has called for a three-day token strike from October 16 to 18, to protest alleged harassment by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) officials.

“Following the failure of talks with the state government officials over the issue of harassment by FDA officials, we have decided to go on a three-day token strike from October 16,” MSCDA president JS Shinde said.

FDA had registered 35 FIRs against chemists across the state from July this year and issued more than 2,000 show-cause notices, he said.

FDA inspectors often threatened to implicate chemists in false cases and demand bribes, he alleged. The Maharashtra State Chemists and Druggists Association, in July, had gone on a strike to protest prohibition on the sale of allopathic medicines against the prescription of non-allopathic doctors.